As for the basics, Ravaged is acceptable but hardly extraordinary. The graphics capture the feel of a barren wasteland, but they do nothing that Fallout, Borderlands, and RAGE haven't already done. The sound effects are great, with gunshots that reverberate across the map, though some of the dialogue is cheesy and the music is bland.

The controls, meanwhile, could use a little work. The basic FPS gameplay is standard—WASD, click to shoot, etc. But things can get a little hairy when you hoist yourself into a vehicle. I can't tell you how many times I took off in a helicopter and crashed it in a ball of flames five seconds later before I finally got the hang of it.

Players will clamor for a wide range of smaller improvements as well. For example, it's awfully hard to tell which soldiers are on which team, which is kind of a problem when you're firing off lethal projectiles. A bright red enemy indicator would be nice.

With the holiday season approaching, there are a lot of shooters coming out. Ravaged has one thing to distinguish itself—the vehicles—but it has a lot more that's missing. Buying Ravaged for $25 isn't a terrible idea if you're in the mood for something a little different, but then again, it also wouldn't be a terrible idea to put your money toward the new Halo and buy Ravaged sometime in the future. Maybe by then it will have a lower price and more substance.

ByRobert VerBruggen
Contributing Writer
Date: October 22, 2012

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.8

GraphicsThis is a good-looking game, but it doesn't break new ground.

3.0

ControlThe FPS controls are fine, but piloting a helicopter is overly difficult.

3.3

Music / Sound FX / Voice ActingThe effects are great, but the voice acting is cheesy and the music is unremarkable.

3.0

Play ValueThe lack of leveling and other key features makes it hard to keep coming back.

3.2

Overall Rating - FairNot an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend

0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid

2.5 - 2.9 = Average

3.5 - 3.9 = Good

4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy

2.0 - 2.4 = Poor

3.0 - 3.4 = Fair

4.0 - 4.4 = Great

5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

Crazy Fun Vehicles. Choose any of the air and ground vehicles to transport your troops, wreak havoc on everything that lays in your path, and steal your opponents' resources.

Skilled Weaponry. Utilize the heavy arsenal of weapons to provide an equally satisfying and deep experience for a variety of different player types.

Variety of Maps. Experience disparate multiplayer maps, some large enough for 32-player combat which encourage large-scale vehicular tactics. For close-quarters combat, various maps are small enough to force eight players into extraordinary firefights.

Skill Rewards. Skill-based flying and driving styles reward players who master them, turning them into the deadliest weapons on the battlefield.

Play as one of two competing groups. The Resistance, a group of freedom fighters trying to rebuild society, or the Scavengers, a band of roving marauders hell-bent on claiming everything for themselves. Both sides offer five unique classes, each with its own specific weapon loadout.